Best Of

Iran is how it is because the leftists helped the Islamists to power

Ascribing single causes to an event like the Iranian revolution is, at the very least, extremely lazy.

I have plenty of Persian friends here in LA: mostly Jewish, but a fair number of Muslims too. A lot of them fled because their families were too close to the Shah.

Very few of them are particularly kind about him. They think that his brutal repression via SAVAK was entirely counter-productive, as was his insane celebration as the King of Kings at a time when large parts of the country were starving helped turn people against him.

They hate what Persia has become, and they hate the Mullahs, but if you ask them if they blame the Shah more or leftists from the around the world, they would look at you like you were completely bonkers.

It is also worth noting that the Shah was one of the leading proponents of OPEC's price assertiveness, which -of course- was triggered by the West's support of Israel. (And which, in turn, meant the Shah didn't have as many friends in the West -on either side of the political aisle- when the revolution came.)

The impression I get is that the Shah's regime was pretty bad but not quite as bad as the current one.

https://bylinetimes.com/2026/03/18/kemi-badenoch-defends-shadow-minister-who-called-london-muslim-celebrations-an-act-of-domination/

"When a Jewish News journalist pointed out that similarly large single sex prayer events are also held by Orthodox Jews in London, Badenoch’s representative replied that the Iftar event was “different”, without explaining how."

Well that's ok then!

Timothy must go?

If she fails to answer the question fully if put to her, she should consider her position too?

Kudos to the Jewish News journalist who skewers the hypocrisy in Nick Timothy's bleatings.

There's a notion out there Muslims are somehow given "special treatment" and other religions are ignored or disadvantaged. Certainly, in my part of the world, Hindu, Sikh, Orthodox and Christian religious events are observed,

Diwali and especially Onam (Keralan) are observed in East Ham as is the birthday of Guru Nanak when there is a Sikh parade down the High Street.

Why does nobody need to be ordered not to fear Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and Christians?

My Dad moved to the US. He worked on abortion policy. His friends, who actually did abortions, had been shot at by Christians.

A member of our local congregation survived the 1982 Hyde Park bombing by the IRA, part of a sectarian conflict between two groups of Christians.

That doesn't explain why we need to be obligated to not fear Islam

That’s just you getting hung up on etymology. “Islamophobia” has the root -phobia in it, but like homophobia, it’s not a real phobia. It’s about bigotry towards a group. Against Jews, we call it anti-Semitism; against Muslims, we call it Islamophobia.

Phobia has a clinical definition

Homophobia often conceals homosexuality

It’s an irrational fear, like the clinical definition of phobia

Xenophobia, fear literally of barbarians, but fear of foreigners, is largely irrational, but can be otherwise in some circumstances

Fear of submission is entirely irrational and should be illegal

Phobia has a clinical definition, but neither homophobia or Islamophobia are clinical diagnoses. They ain’t in the DSM.

We’ve ended up with words of a confusing etymology to mean bigotry against particular groups. Trying to interpret these words based on their etymology is about as stupid as the people who say that Palestinians can’t be anti-Semitic because they’re Semites too.

Are you successfully arguing that fear of Islam isn’t Islamophobia?

Islamophobia is not a phobia. The Government is not intending to ban people from being afraid of Muslims. “Islamophobia” is the word (with a somewhat confusing etymology) that refers to bigotry towards Muslims. What part of this do you not understand?

So is fear of Islam equivalent to your definition of Islamophobia?

Can I fear Islam and still love Muslims, without falling foul of your side's latest fascist definition?

PS Please don't Starmer me again

No, fear of Islam is not a good definition of “Islamophobia”. If you actually care about what’s happening, rather than your own paranoia, you can look at the government’s working group’s document on what they mean by “Islamophobia”: https://mhclgmedia.blog.gov.uk/2025/07/07/islamophobia-working-group-definition/ What they mean, to put it simply, is anti-Muslim hatred.

The report also says: “We are absolutely committed to defending freedom of speech, and any proposed definition must be compatible with the right to freedom of speech and expression.”

Your first sentence is so 1984

Words only mean what we say they mean

Etymology must die

Yes, that is how words work.

Do you think “sarcastic” means “it tears the flesh off someone”?

Do you think “nice” means “ignorant”?

Do you think December is the tenth month of the year?

Both of the first two for sure

And December was named when there were only ten months

Blanche, I’m sure you’re a lovely person, but if you are going around believing the word “nice” means “ignorant”, then I don’t see how it is possible to have any sort of reasoned conversation with you.

https://bylinetimes.com/2026/03/18/kemi-badenoch-defends-shadow-minister-who-called-london-muslim-celebrations-an-act-of-domination/

"When a Jewish News journalist pointed out that similarly large single sex prayer events are also held by Orthodox Jews in London, Badenoch’s representative replied that the Iftar event was “different”, without explaining how."

Well that's ok then!

Timothy must go?

If she fails to answer the question fully if put to her, she should consider her position too?

Kudos to the Jewish News journalist who skewers the hypocrisy in Nick Timothy's bleatings.

There's a notion out there Muslims are somehow given "special treatment" and other religions are ignored or disadvantaged. Certainly, in my part of the world, Hindu, Sikh, Orthodox and Christian religious events are observed,

Diwali and especially Onam (Keralan) are observed in East Ham as is the birthday of Guru Nanak when there is a Sikh parade down the High Street.

Why does nobody need to be ordered not to fear Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and Christians?

My Dad moved to the US. He worked on abortion policy. His friends, who actually did abortions, had been shot at by Christians.

A member of our local congregation survived the 1982 Hyde Park bombing by the IRA, part of a sectarian conflict between two groups of Christians.

That doesn't explain why we need to be obligated to not fear Islam

That’s just you getting hung up on etymology. “Islamophobia” has the root -phobia in it, but like homophobia, it’s not a real phobia. It’s about bigotry towards a group. Against Jews, we call it anti-Semitism; against Muslims, we call it Islamophobia.

Phobia has a clinical definition

Homophobia often conceals homosexuality

It’s an irrational fear, like the clinical definition of phobia

Xenophobia, fear literally of barbarians, but fear of foreigners, is largely irrational, but can be otherwise in some circumstances

Fear of submission is entirely irrational and should be illegal

Phobia has a clinical definition, but neither homophobia or Islamophobia are clinical diagnoses. They ain’t in the DSM.

We’ve ended up with words of a confusing etymology to mean bigotry against particular groups. Trying to interpret these words based on their etymology is about as stupid as the people who say that Palestinians can’t be anti-Semitic because they’re Semites too.

Are you successfully arguing that fear of Islam isn’t Islamophobia?

Islamophobia is not a phobia. The Government is not intending to ban people from being afraid of Muslims. “Islamophobia” is the word (with a somewhat confusing etymology) that refers to bigotry towards Muslims. What part of this do you not understand?

In case you missed the distinction; I said fear of Islam, you said fear of Muslims

Not the same thing

You know that thing whereby closet antisemites religiously stick to slagging off "Israel" when inside their own head they mean Jews?

It's possible to pull off that exact same trick with "Muslims" and "Islam". And people do.

The fun bit is when people don't realise what is going on inside their own heads. The number of people who quite genuinely believe that "because a mate at work is X, I can't be anti-X".

A minefield topic too. As we see tonight. The biggest tell for me of somebody fallen down the prejudice hole on muslims is 'they shouldn't be here fouling up the place and taking over' type sentiments.

The important bit is not disliking *groups*.

There are arseholes in all groups.

Yep. Like I know approx one third of Reform voters are racist. But if I meet one, a Reform voter, I'm not going to just assume they are that way inclined. I'll wait until they've said something dodgy before I make that call. And I won't just drop the hammer I'll give them a chance to explain first. Because I might have misconstrued them. It could be me at fault.

Nah, just follow your instincts.

https://bylinetimes.com/2026/03/18/kemi-badenoch-defends-shadow-minister-who-called-london-muslim-celebrations-an-act-of-domination/

"When a Jewish News journalist pointed out that similarly large single sex prayer events are also held by Orthodox Jews in London, Badenoch’s representative replied that the Iftar event was “different”, without explaining how."

Well that's ok then!

Timothy must go?

If she fails to answer the question fully if put to her, she should consider her position too?

Kudos to the Jewish News journalist who skewers the hypocrisy in Nick Timothy's bleatings.

There's a notion out there Muslims are somehow given "special treatment" and other religions are ignored or disadvantaged. Certainly, in my part of the world, Hindu, Sikh, Orthodox and Christian religious events are observed,

Diwali and especially Onam (Keralan) are observed in East Ham as is the birthday of Guru Nanak when there is a Sikh parade down the High Street.

Why does nobody need to be ordered not to fear Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and Christians?

My Dad moved to the US. He worked on abortion policy. His friends, who actually did abortions, had been shot at by Christians.

A member of our local congregation survived the 1982 Hyde Park bombing by the IRA, part of a sectarian conflict between two groups of Christians.

That doesn't explain why we need to be obligated to not fear Islam

That’s just you getting hung up on etymology. “Islamophobia” has the root -phobia in it, but like homophobia, it’s not a real phobia. It’s about bigotry towards a group. Against Jews, we call it anti-Semitism; against Muslims, we call it Islamophobia.

Phobia has a clinical definition

Homophobia often conceals homosexuality

It’s an irrational fear, like the clinical definition of phobia

Xenophobia, fear literally of barbarians, but fear of foreigners, is largely irrational, but can be otherwise in some circumstances

Fear of submission is entirely irrational and should be illegal

Phobia has a clinical definition, but neither homophobia or Islamophobia are clinical diagnoses. They ain’t in the DSM.

We’ve ended up with words of a confusing etymology to mean bigotry against particular groups. Trying to interpret these words based on their etymology is about as stupid as the people who say that Palestinians can’t be anti-Semitic because they’re Semites too.

Are you successfully arguing that fear of Islam isn’t Islamophobia?

Islamophobia is not a phobia. The Government is not intending to ban people from being afraid of Muslims. “Islamophobia” is the word (with a somewhat confusing etymology) that refers to bigotry towards Muslims. What part of this do you not understand?

In case you missed the distinction; I said fear of Islam, you said fear of Muslims

Not the same thing

You know that thing whereby closet antisemites religiously stick to slagging off "Israel" when inside their own head they mean Jews?

It's possible to pull off that exact same trick with "Muslims" and "Islam". And people do.

The fun bit is when people don't realise what is going on inside their own heads. The number of people who quite genuinely believe that "because a mate at work is X, I can't be anti-X".

A minefield topic too. As we see tonight. The biggest tell for me of somebody fallen down the prejudice hole on muslims is 'they shouldn't be here fouling up the place and taking over' type sentiments.

The important bit is not disliking *groups*.

There are arseholes in all groups.

Yep. Like I know approx one third of Reform voters are racist. But if I meet one, a Reform voter, I'm not going to just assume they are that way inclined. I'll wait until they've said something dodgy before I make that call. And I won't just drop the hammer I'll give them a chance to explain first. Because I might have misconstrued them. It could be me at fault.

https://bylinetimes.com/2026/03/18/kemi-badenoch-defends-shadow-minister-who-called-london-muslim-celebrations-an-act-of-domination/

"When a Jewish News journalist pointed out that similarly large single sex prayer events are also held by Orthodox Jews in London, Badenoch’s representative replied that the Iftar event was “different”, without explaining how."

Well that's ok then!

Timothy must go?

If she fails to answer the question fully if put to her, she should consider her position too?

Kudos to the Jewish News journalist who skewers the hypocrisy in Nick Timothy's bleatings.

There's a notion out there Muslims are somehow given "special treatment" and other religions are ignored or disadvantaged. Certainly, in my part of the world, Hindu, Sikh, Orthodox and Christian religious events are observed,

Diwali and especially Onam (Keralan) are observed in East Ham as is the birthday of Guru Nanak when there is a Sikh parade down the High Street.

Why does nobody need to be ordered not to fear Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and Christians?

My Dad moved to the US. He worked on abortion policy. His friends, who actually did abortions, had been shot at by Christians.

A member of our local congregation survived the 1982 Hyde Park bombing by the IRA, part of a sectarian conflict between two groups of Christians.

That doesn't explain why we need to be obligated to not fear Islam

That’s just you getting hung up on etymology. “Islamophobia” has the root -phobia in it, but like homophobia, it’s not a real phobia. It’s about bigotry towards a group. Against Jews, we call it anti-Semitism; against Muslims, we call it Islamophobia.

Phobia has a clinical definition

Homophobia often conceals homosexuality

It’s an irrational fear, like the clinical definition of phobia

Xenophobia, fear literally of barbarians, but fear of foreigners, is largely irrational, but can be otherwise in some circumstances

Fear of submission is entirely irrational and should be illegal

Phobia has a clinical definition, but neither homophobia or Islamophobia are clinical diagnoses. They ain’t in the DSM.

We’ve ended up with words of a confusing etymology to mean bigotry against particular groups. Trying to interpret these words based on their etymology is about as stupid as the people who say that Palestinians can’t be anti-Semitic because they’re Semites too.

Are you successfully arguing that fear of Islam isn’t Islamophobia?

Islamophobia is not a phobia. The Government is not intending to ban people from being afraid of Muslims. “Islamophobia” is the word (with a somewhat confusing etymology) that refers to bigotry towards Muslims. What part of this do you not understand?

In case you missed the distinction; I said fear of Islam, you said fear of Muslims

Not the same thing

You know that thing whereby closet antisemites religiously stick to slagging off "Israel" when inside their own head they mean Jews?

It's possible to pull off that exact same trick with "Muslims" and "Islam". And people do.

The fun bit is when people don't realise what is going on inside their own heads. The number of people who quite genuinely believe that "because a mate at work is X, I can't be anti-X".

A minefield topic too. As we see tonight. The biggest tell for me of somebody fallen down the prejudice hole on muslims is 'they shouldn't be here fouling up the place and taking over' type sentiments.

One particular agent provocateur kicks this one off and before you know it one or two others have been triggered. It happens every time. Sometimes I wonder whether the agent provocateur even believes what he says, I suspect he just lights the touch paper and watches the inferno.

Yes I've noticed that. Populist firebrand. Thankfully I'm immune.

Anyway like an arsonist at the crime scene, he's nowhere to be seen as the fire rages.

https://bylinetimes.com/2026/03/18/kemi-badenoch-defends-shadow-minister-who-called-london-muslim-celebrations-an-act-of-domination/

"When a Jewish News journalist pointed out that similarly large single sex prayer events are also held by Orthodox Jews in London, Badenoch’s representative replied that the Iftar event was “different”, without explaining how."

Well that's ok then!

Timothy must go?

If she fails to answer the question fully if put to her, she should consider her position too?

Kudos to the Jewish News journalist who skewers the hypocrisy in Nick Timothy's bleatings.

There's a notion out there Muslims are somehow given "special treatment" and other religions are ignored or disadvantaged. Certainly, in my part of the world, Hindu, Sikh, Orthodox and Christian religious events are observed,

Diwali and especially Onam (Keralan) are observed in East Ham as is the birthday of Guru Nanak when there is a Sikh parade down the High Street.

Why does nobody need to be ordered not to fear Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and Christians?

My Dad moved to the US. He worked on abortion policy. His friends, who actually did abortions, had been shot at by Christians.

A member of our local congregation survived the 1982 Hyde Park bombing by the IRA, part of a sectarian conflict between two groups of Christians.

That doesn't explain why we need to be obligated to not fear Islam

That’s just you getting hung up on etymology. “Islamophobia” has the root -phobia in it, but like homophobia, it’s not a real phobia. It’s about bigotry towards a group. Against Jews, we call it anti-Semitism; against Muslims, we call it Islamophobia.

Phobia has a clinical definition

Homophobia often conceals homosexuality

It’s an irrational fear, like the clinical definition of phobia

Xenophobia, fear literally of barbarians, but fear of foreigners, is largely irrational, but can be otherwise in some circumstances

Fear of submission is entirely irrational and should be illegal

Phobia has a clinical definition, but neither homophobia or Islamophobia are clinical diagnoses. They ain’t in the DSM.

We’ve ended up with words of a confusing etymology to mean bigotry against particular groups. Trying to interpret these words based on their etymology is about as stupid as the people who say that Palestinians can’t be anti-Semitic because they’re Semites too.

Are you successfully arguing that fear of Islam isn’t Islamophobia?

Islamophobia is not a phobia. The Government is not intending to ban people from being afraid of Muslims. “Islamophobia” is the word (with a somewhat confusing etymology) that refers to bigotry towards Muslims. What part of this do you not understand?

In case you missed the distinction; I said fear of Islam, you said fear of Muslims

Not the same thing

You know that thing whereby closet antisemites religiously stick to slagging off "Israel" when inside their own head they mean Jews?

It's possible to pull off that exact same trick with "Muslims" and "Islam". And people do.

The fun bit is when people don't realise what is going on inside their own heads. The number of people who quite genuinely believe that "because a mate at work is X, I can't be anti-X".

A minefield topic too. As we see tonight. The biggest tell for me of somebody fallen down the prejudice hole on muslims is 'they shouldn't be here fouling up the place and taking over' type sentiments.

One particular agent provocateur kicks this one off and before you know it one or two others have been triggered. It happens every time. Sometimes I wonder whether the agent provocateur even believes what he says, I suspect he just lights the touch paper and watches the inferno.

Yes I've noticed that. Populist firebrand. Thankfully I'm immune.

Yeah, I’m checking out.

Yep. This is what the future looks like if Farage gets in.

Some of us care about this country's liberal traditions. If you don't then you may well get what you deserve.

I care about this country’s liberal traditions. Which is why I don’t want bigots in charge.

If you won't confront the Islamic issue, that's what you'll probably get. Don't complain that you weren't warned.

The mayor of the capital for the last 10 years is a practicing muslim, I haven't noticed any attempts to introduce sharia law or restrict people's activities in line with the teaching of the Quran, unless it has something to say on diesels and SUVs. He's also notably less bigoted than either of the two previous mayors.

a

https://bylinetimes.com/2026/03/18/kemi-badenoch-defends-shadow-minister-who-called-london-muslim-celebrations-an-act-of-domination/

"When a Jewish News journalist pointed out that similarly large single sex prayer events are also held by Orthodox Jews in London, Badenoch’s representative replied that the Iftar event was “different”, without explaining how."

Well that's ok then!

Timothy must go?

If she fails to answer the question fully if put to her, she should consider her position too?

Kudos to the Jewish News journalist who skewers the hypocrisy in Nick Timothy's bleatings.

There's a notion out there Muslims are somehow given "special treatment" and other religions are ignored or disadvantaged. Certainly, in my part of the world, Hindu, Sikh, Orthodox and Christian religious events are observed,

Diwali and especially Onam (Keralan) are observed in East Ham as is the birthday of Guru Nanak when there is a Sikh parade down the High Street.

Why does nobody need to be ordered not to fear Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and Christians?

My Dad moved to the US. He worked on abortion policy. His friends, who actually did abortions, had been shot at by Christians.

A member of our local congregation survived the 1982 Hyde Park bombing by the IRA, part of a sectarian conflict between two groups of Christians.

That doesn't explain why we need to be obligated to not fear Islam

That’s just you getting hung up on etymology. “Islamophobia” has the root -phobia in it, but like homophobia, it’s not a real phobia. It’s about bigotry towards a group. Against Jews, we call it anti-Semitism; against Muslims, we call it Islamophobia.

Our special treatment of anti-semitism stems from the holocaust. Labour's proposed special treatment of islamaphobia stems from what? We got too grumpy and over-reacted when they blew up our tube trains?

I kinda think it shouldn’t take a genocide for us to stop being bigoted against a group.

Why might we need the government to take some sort of action around Islamophobia? Well, look at this thread and the half a dozen people being very bigoted against Muslims, making up nonsense about Muslims, declaring Islam a unique threat. Two of the commonest bigotries in our country today are anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. (Ziganophobia is up there too.)

Some British muslims blow stuff up. Some gypies living in Britain steal. What bad thing do you think some British Jews do? Do enlighten us.

What’s that got to do with the price of fish? Bigotry is not justified by the actions of a few individuals. Do you really think it’s fine for people to be bigoted against a group because a few individuals in that group have behaved poorly?

A lot of people have come to the conclusion that the downsides of Islamic immigration outweigh the good. It’s not bigoted to think that, it’s a reasonable opinion, backed by some high profile incidents. We are westerners, they are not, and the hassle of trying and failing to integrate them is not worth it.

One bit of the immigration debate is that nearly everyone has a group* they don't want.

Some years ago, I pranked a bunch of students with a tale of USA'ian rednecks coming to Cornwall to re-open the tin mines. By the time I'd finished with the usual anti-immigrant tales, they were all for throwing them into the sea, in the very spirit of that sea captain in the time of Edward I

Some of this parish got very upset by the idea of Zimbabwean farmers coming here.

Probably, being anti-immigrant is one of those irregular verbs.

*A group. Think about that for a minute.

https://bylinetimes.com/2026/03/18/kemi-badenoch-defends-shadow-minister-who-called-london-muslim-celebrations-an-act-of-domination/

"When a Jewish News journalist pointed out that similarly large single sex prayer events are also held by Orthodox Jews in London, Badenoch’s representative replied that the Iftar event was “different”, without explaining how."

Well that's ok then!

Timothy must go?

If she fails to answer the question fully if put to her, she should consider her position too?

Kudos to the Jewish News journalist who skewers the hypocrisy in Nick Timothy's bleatings.

There's a notion out there Muslims are somehow given "special treatment" and other religions are ignored or disadvantaged. Certainly, in my part of the world, Hindu, Sikh, Orthodox and Christian religious events are observed,

Diwali and especially Onam (Keralan) are observed in East Ham as is the birthday of Guru Nanak when there is a Sikh parade down the High Street.

Why does nobody need to be ordered not to fear Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and Christians?

My Dad moved to the US. He worked on abortion policy. His friends, who actually did abortions, had been shot at by Christians.

A member of our local congregation survived the 1982 Hyde Park bombing by the IRA, part of a sectarian conflict between two groups of Christians.

That doesn't explain why we need to be obligated to not fear Islam

That’s just you getting hung up on etymology. “Islamophobia” has the root -phobia in it, but like homophobia, it’s not a real phobia. It’s about bigotry towards a group. Against Jews, we call it anti-Semitism; against Muslims, we call it Islamophobia.

Phobia has a clinical definition

Homophobia often conceals homosexuality

It’s an irrational fear, like the clinical definition of phobia

Xenophobia, fear literally of barbarians, but fear of foreigners, is largely irrational, but can be otherwise in some circumstances

Fear of submission is entirely irrational and should be illegal

Phobia has a clinical definition, but neither homophobia or Islamophobia are clinical diagnoses. They ain’t in the DSM.

We’ve ended up with words of a confusing etymology to mean bigotry against particular groups. Trying to interpret these words based on their etymology is about as stupid as the people who say that Palestinians can’t be anti-Semitic because they’re Semites too.

Are you successfully arguing that fear of Islam isn’t Islamophobia?

Islamophobia is not a phobia. The Government is not intending to ban people from being afraid of Muslims. “Islamophobia” is the word (with a somewhat confusing etymology) that refers to bigotry towards Muslims. What part of this do you not understand?

In case you missed the distinction; I said fear of Islam, you said fear of Muslims

Not the same thing

You know that thing whereby closet antisemites religiously stick to slagging off "Israel" when inside their own head they mean Jews?

It's possible to pull off that exact same trick with "Muslims" and "Islam". And people do.

The fun bit is when people don't realise what is going on inside their own heads. The number of people who quite genuinely believe that "because a mate at work is X, I can't be anti-X".

A minefield topic too. As we see tonight. The biggest tell for me of somebody fallen down the prejudice hole on muslims is 'they shouldn't be here fouling up the place and taking over' type sentiments.

The important bit is not disliking *groups*.

There are arseholes in all groups.